On the Gulf Stream arid Currents of the Sea. 179 



Therefore let those who are curious as to the migratory habits 

 of fishes, join hands in the proposed system of observations upon 

 currents, for the few facts which we have bearing upon the sub- 

 ject seem to suggest it as a point of the inquiry to be made wheth- 

 er the habitat of certain fishes does not indicate the temperature of 

 the water, and whether these warm and cold currents of the ocean 

 do not constitute the great highways through which migratory 

 fishes travel from one region to another. 



Navigators have often met with vast numbers of sea nettles 

 (medusse) drifting along with the Gulf Stream. They are known 

 to constitute the principle food for the whale ; but whither bound, 

 by this route, has caused much curious speculation, for it is well 

 known, that the habits of the whale are averse to the warm waters 

 of this stream. An intelligent sea captain informs me that two 

 or three years ago, in the Gulf Stream, on the coast of Florida, 

 he fell in with such a "schole of young sea nettles as had never 

 before been heard of." The sea was covered with them for many 

 leagues. He likened them in appearance on the water to acorns 

 floating on a stream. He was bound to England, and was five 

 or six days in sailing through them. In about sixty days after- 

 wards, on his return, he fell in with the same schole off the West- 

 ern Islands, and here he was three or four days in passing them 

 again. He recognized them as the same, for he had never before 

 seen any like them ; and on both occasions he frequently hauled 

 up buckets full and examined them. 



Now the Western Islands is the great place of resort for whales. 

 And at first there is something curious in the idea, that the Gulf 

 of Mexico is the harvest field, and the Gulf Stream the gleaner, 

 which collects the fruitage planted there, and conveys it thou- 

 sands of miles to the hungry whale at sea. But hov/ perfectly 

 in unison is it with the kind and providential care of that great 

 and good Being, which feeds both the young ravens and the 

 sparrows ! 



Our information as to the Sargasso sea is most barren. Whence 

 comes the weed with which it is covered, or where its place of 

 growth may be, is matter of dispute among learned men. But 

 as for the office which it performs in the economy of the ocean, 

 conjecture even is silent. Certain it is however, that sea of weeds 

 was not planted in the middle of the ocean without design. The 

 marks of intelligence, displayed throughout the whole system of 

 terrestrial adaptations, forbid the idea. 



